404sx & External Sequencers

[PattyMacAttakk]

Whatup everybody,

I just purchased an SP 404sx, and I should have it within a few days. It will be my first SP ever!

I understand that the 404sx does not have a sequencer, so with that being said I have some questions regarding external sequencers:

I know it's not absolutely necessary to have one, but I assume it makes beat making easier..? I'm fairly new to beat making.. I used to have an MPC 60 but I never fully dove into it and ended up selling it. The way I'm used to making beats is by tracking stuff out (track 1 drums, track 2 bass, track 3 sample etc..)

What are my best options for hardware sequencers that will combo well with the 404sx?

Ideally I want an MPC 2000xl, but I don't have enough money right now..

What are some other options for hardware with good sequencers?

There's a cheap SP 808 on craigslist that I've been considering too. Would that be a good combo with my 404, or would their features cancel each other out?

[tape smoke]

the 404 has one of the best sequencers ever,

but midi will work if you want to program beats in a computer,

[PattyMacAttakk]

I thought you only work with patterns or something like that and it only has 1 track. Is that right?

[ghost ghost ghost]

I mostly just use resample to "sequence", but I sometimes run my 404 from the MPC60. 2KXL is dope, the sequencer is rock solid just like any MPC, and if you shop around you will find one cheap. The 404 does have an internal pattern sequencer but I don't really like it coming from an MPC. That being said it is good enough to program beats, and having a super deep sequencer on a machine that only uses one stereo output strikes me as a little pointless so, it's fine. Another option would be to just run MIDI from your computer and do it that way